My recent way of working

Hello,

I hope you're all having a good start to September.  Can't quite believe it's here already and as it's been a lovely summer here in the UK, I'm hoping some good weather will continue as I've loved wearing shorts pretty much everyday all the way through.  That's been a real treat for my legs and a nice change from them being cooped up.  So far it's still good so all is well.  

Today I'm sharing a new image I've recently finished.  I've been working a lot with ideas just from my imagination over the past few months which I've then made into prints or cards.  I guess it's a bit of a change for me to just create work where I feel I have complete freedom to experiment as it's all been work that will potentially go into my Etsy shop or just be created as portfolio pieces for my website.  I've mentioned before how enjoyable this has been for me and it's also meant I've allowed myself time to 'have a go' at new processes, one of which has been incorporating linocut into my work and I'm really happy with the results.  I've been combining it with my painted/penciled/stencilled areas and I love the variety of textures I can get from it alongside my regular combinations.  

This is the most recent work.

The sea creatures were created from the linocut and then I've used a combination of acrylic paint, coloured pencils and oil pastels to create the plants and shapes.  The idea stems from a combination of conversations with friends....yep! feelings, music and a desire to create a moving, swirling image with a limited palette.  

Over the past few months all of the below images have been created incorporating linocut into my work.  I really do enjoy the process and the finish it gives combined with the looser marks created by hand.  All of these illustrations are available to buy as Giclee prints over in my shop too.

I thought I'd share that little insight into the way I've been working, I hope it's been of interest!  I'm now off to get some sketching done working through some new ideas.  

I hope you're all ready for the weekend and I'll be back soon :).

More new things in the shop :)

Hello again, 

I hope everyone is doing well.  I've been spending today doodling away which has been rather nice.  Autumn is very much here so I'm enjoying getting out all my cosy clothes and socks and drinking lots of tea! (nothing out of the ordinary there then!)

This week I updated my Etsy shop with some new products so I wanted to share them with you.  I've now added small lined notebooks and pocket mirrors.  I loved creating these designs.  I got really carried away creating all the patterns which was something a little different for me too.  

First up are the mirrors.  They're pocket sized 76mm in diameter so ideal to be carried in your bag.

Next are the notebooks.  A6 in size and lined so again they can be easily slipped in your bag for reminders and scribbles.

I'm really happy with how they've turned out.  Hopefully they will also brighten up your day!  

Ok, I'm off to make a cuppa, I think it's time.  Have a lovely weekend! :)

Time away in the countryside and a shop update :)

Hello, I thought I’d do some updates as it’s been a while.  Also because I had a little break away for the first time since the beginning of the year which was really needed and lovely.  Normally I would have had a break by now but with all that’s happened….well, need I say more!

Firstly, I’ve updated my Etsy shop with new products since I was last here, including custom house portraits in a variety of sizes.  I’m offering black and white portraits as I think they make lovely personal gifts.  I’m hoping people will like them especially with Christmas coming up.  We have all spent a lot more time at home this year after all.  I’ve also added some pick and mix print selection bundles and a postcard set, so some bargains are available.  I’ve got some new products coming soon which I’m very excited about and when they come I will post about that, promise!  Also, if you’re really organised I’ve added my Christmas tree ornaments.  These are hand painted with various patterns and each one is totally unique!  So, if you’re a really early decorator or you’d like a gift for a friend in advance of decorating time a little bit of Christmas awaits.

I’m also going to share some photos of my time away.  I went to Norfolk/Suffolk and spent my time going out for lovely long walks every day I was there.  It was so good to see my family again and spend a good chunk of time with them.  I really feel refreshed and I definitely needed to get away.  I was so lucky with the weather too.  It was really sunny and warm so it meant every time I got to the coast I got to spend a long time paddling in the sea which for me is a total joy :).

Brandon Park

Wells-Next-the-Sea

Cromer

Flatford

Southwold

Southwold happy feet :)

Dunwich Heath

I had such a lovely time.  I've really missed taking long nature walks so this trip has really revitalised me in so many ways.  I hope everyone is doing well and managing ok during this time.  It will end!  Take care and I'll be back soon x

Cards, prints and Monday sun

Hello,

The start of another (so far, sunny) week.  It is always nice when Monday begins with sunshine.
I hope everyone is keeping well.  Today I'm going to share a couple of recent things I've done.  The first is I've added some products to my Etsy shop.  There is now a range of cards (birthday, thank you, any occasion,) and prints on a variety of themes.  There's nature, London and wildlife.  Here's a little selection :-

Last week I also was very kindly featured on the Feast Norfolk Magazine website.  They did a little interview about me, my work and of course food! 

I'm guzzling down coffee as I write this, keeping it brief.  I hope you're all having a good start to the week and I'll be back soonish with more of my goings on. 

Happy New Year!

Hello and Happy New Year!  I've had a lovely break away for Christmas and am now enjoying being back, sorting out a few things, and doing some drawing :).  I always really appreciate a break at this time of the year.  It is so nice to just slow down a bit, relax and spend time with family.
I wanted to share an illustration I completed just before Christmas still on a sea theme.  I've really been enjoying drawing sea creatures, they are so fascinating.  The colour palette I hope gives it a vintage feel.  I didn't get to spend much time at the coast on this visit home, just because it's Christmastime and it's a little more difficult to get out.  Next time!

When I got back to London I spent a beautiful day out walking from Hammersmith to Richmond.  It was a glorious sunny day and the light was sooo pretty.  

It was such a lovely day :).  

Finally, as it's New Year, and 2020 I've also got a sale on in my Etsy shop SharonFarrowArt 20% off everything.  There are prints, xmas cards, originals, stickers and postcards to choose from so please come and have a browse.

I hope you've had a lovely break and I hope you have a wonderful 2020.  I can't believe we're at that date already!  I'll be back soon, now it's time for coffee and some drawing :).

Bargains in the shop!

Hello,

So December is now upon us.  I don't know about you but November/December always feels pretty busy getting organised for Christmas, I tend to have a lot of lists!  Illustration wise, I've been working on a couple of commissions which is great, and alongside that organising my Etsy shop (SharonFarrowArt) so it now has a few more products.  I've added some original mini nature-themed canvasses and I've also made those canvasses into A6 postcards.  Plus, I also have a sale on, hurrah! so right now there is 20% off everything.  The four images below are the canvasses.

It was fun to work on these.  It's been ages since I painted on canvas, so it was an interesting challenge to paint on a different surface and I'm really happy with how they turned out.  

Right, time to get organised again.  I've got an early start tomorrow so I need to go to bed!

Have a great week!

A November update

Hello,

So it has been a looonng time since I wrote on here.  I guess other things just took over.  Anyway, I'm back now and so I'll share a few things I've been up to.
Firstly, I've got some Christmas themed cards and decorations up in my Etsy shop SharonFarrowArt. I've created six new cards and some stocking and star decorations.  It does feel a bit strange to have kind of completed Christmas things before I've really started thinking about it (if you know what I mean).  I have started my shopping though, I like to get that done early :).  Without further ado here are the Christmas things.

Making the decorations was a bit of a departure for me but I had the ideas and the materials so I thought I'd give it a go.  It was fun to do something a bit different too. 

Today I've been working on a bit of personal work which I will show soon.  It's been a hibernation day :).

Have a lovely week and I'll be back sooner next time!